Vero Beach: Why use points?

[Mississippian]

My family is planning a vacation for Spring Break. We're spending three nights at WDW at a Grand Villa at OKW followed by three nights at Vero Beach. Our thinking on the Grand Villa is that we may ask some friends to join us.

We originally only had two nights at Vero, but I added a weekend night for cash. The rate for a two bedroom with the 25 percent discount is $524.25 versus 111 points. If booking for points, this is the same as selling your points for $4.72 each. The weekday nights cost 45 points, which converts to $11.67 per point.

I've borrowed a bunch of points for this trip, and while I can't put them back I can bank some of this year's points into next year. I'm seriously thinking about cancelling one or both of my nights that I have on points and converting them to cash, assuming I can get the 25 percent discount. It just seems a shame to "blow" all my points and then maybe have to buy or rent some more later.

One final note. The DisneyBeachResorts website shows no availability at Vero at the dates we are going. Yet when I called member services rooms were available at a 25 percent discount. This doesn't make sense to me, but just thought I would throw this out there.

Just curious for anyone's thoughts. It seems to me like it might be a bad bet to ever book Vero with BWV or BCV points, and perhaps VWL points as well, assuming one can get the 25% discount. These points tend to bring a little higher price in the rental market, and one could probably sell the points and use the money to rent a room.

Also, it's incredibly hard to get the rack rates for these Vero and HHI. Does anyone know them?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My family is planning a vacation for Spring Break. We're spending three nights at WDW at a Grand Villa at OKW followed by three nights at Vero Beach. Our thinking on the Grand Villa is that we may ask some friends to join us.

We originally only had two nights at Vero, but I added a weekend night for cash. The rate for a two bedroom with the 25 percent discount is $524.25 versus 111 points. If booking for points, this is the same as selling your points for $4.72 each. The weekday nights cost 45 points, which converts to $11.67 per point.

I've borrowed a bunch of points for this trip, and while I can't put them back I can bank some of this year's points into next year. I'm seriously thinking about cancelling one or both of my nights that I have on points and converting them to cash, assuming I can get the 25 percent discount. It just seems a shame to "blow" all my points and then maybe have to buy or rent some more later.

One final note. The DisneyBeachResorts website shows no availability at Vero at the dates we are going. Yet when I called member services rooms were available at a 25 percent discount. This doesn't make sense to me, but just thought I would throw this out there.

Just curious for anyone's thoughts. It seems to me like it might be a bad bet to ever book Vero with BWV or BCV points, and perhaps VWL points as well, assuming one can get the 25% discount. These points tend to bring a little higher price in the rental market, and one could probably sell the points and use the money to rent a room.

Also, it's incredibly hard to get the rack rates for these Vero and HHI. Does anyone know them?

You are talking about a weekend ressie. You will never see the point benefit using points on a weekend regardless of where you stay. However, VB does have great cash rates, esp. with the discount. Also, different resorts have different weekend point values. You just have to weigh the differences and inconviences. When I am at WDW, I use points on the weekend. When I am at VB, I use cash on the weekend.

 

[CraftyMouse]

You are talking about a weekend ressie. You will never see the point benefit using points on a weekend regardless of where you stay. However, VB does have great cash rates, esp. with the discount. Also, different resorts have different weekend point values. You just have to weigh the differences and inconviences. When I am at WDW, I use points on the weekend. When I am at VB, I use cash on the weekend.

Exactly. It is always a better deal, financially, to use cash for weekend nights...and not just at Vero. Some members prefer to use their points, simply because they have them and don't have to come up with the cash. If you do have the extra cash, however, then save your points.